§ Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities on the South Coast of England now have sewage treatment works which effectively prevent untreated sewage being put into the English Channel; which do not; and what steps he is taking to effect further improvement with regard to the discharge of untreated sewage into the English Channel.
§ Mr. John Silkin:Since 1st April 1974 it is the water authorities that are responsible for sewage treatment and disposal. The South-Western, Wessex and Southern Water Authorities border the English Channel, and all make discharges of both treated and crude sewage. The elimination of all discharges of crude sewage must be a matter for the long term, but in directing the resources available to them water authorities take into account the extent to which bathing and fishing interests are affected by unsatisfactory discharges.